Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-11
STATE PRISONERS.
MHssRs. R. A. AYERS AND JOHN SCOTT
IN RICHMOND JAIL.
Preparations 10 Take the Cases to the
United States supreme Court
kccsbs's Contempt.

United States Supreme Court
Kccsbs's Contempt.
On Sunday, at their quarters, in the
Office Of the city Jail. Attorney-General
Ayers and Commonwealth's.Attorney
Scott, Of Fauquier, received many visi-
tors, most of them gentlemen well
known throughout the State.
The prisoners were subjects of admi-
ration and sympathy of the former
because they have taken o patriotic and
populariy-approved stand against what
they consider a Federal judges usurped
jurisdiction of the latter because
1.-the October sum-" shining with mid
summer heat upon tin roof, made
their room anything but pleasant du-
ring the day, while at night they were
toImented by innumerable mosquitoes,
and Oh the time they have ascending
TO their nostriIs the cabbagey odors Of
the Jail-kitchen. These few discOm-
forts arc, however. almost counterbll-
anccd by the polite attentions Of the
jail officials and the novelty of the situa-
ton.
Eoth Mr.. Ayers and Mr. Scott, as
Commonwealth attorneys, have In
their day and official generation sent
many accused TO jail, but this is the
first tinc either has had personal ex-
perionce of prisOn-life.
They went to jail Saturday night,
and on Sunday and yesterday saw all
the sights Of the place, and are now well
acquainted with the prison and its rou-
tine, and are no doubt of the opinion
that it is Il good enough place for
brief stay-thc briefer the better, how
ever.
TIE JAIL AS IT IS.
A Dispatch reporter who visited the
jail yesterday mOrDing found in it and
its approaches that unsavory condition
which II has ever had ard ever will have
until more space is given to the yard
end the kitchen is put very far into the
background. The j0iler does his duty.
Int rs he can't appropriate money, he
can't build "A rev jail.
The City Council is at present en-
Ceced in spending several thousand
dollars in improvements which, while
they will possibly do some good, will
not prevent the prison continuing to
be a shame and reprOach to n city
which claims population of $4,000.
Yesterday morning an artist was en-
Coped in limcwashing the walls sur
rounding the outer yard a deep and
deadly blue which color will make a
vivid contrast with other walls which
viii be whitewashed.
Mr.. SCOTT ALONE.
Mr.. Scott was found in the jliler's
office. lie wore a soft black felt hat,
was shaved with ecrupulous niceness,
and appeared to he as fresh and balmy
as if he were in his parlor instead OF in
a prison. lie is tall and rather spare,
and is quite straight and active for his
aec, which looks to be sixty-fve, but
must be something greater than that.
lie was calmly contemplating the artis-
tic exortions of tie man with the blue
wash brush when the inquiring visitor
entered, shook hands with him, con.
graduated him upon his healthful APP
pcaraEcc, and asked where Mr.. Ayers
was.
Mr.. Scott said that counsel had sent
for Ar Ayers TO come up to the United
States courthouse to help make up the
record Of the case, and that Mr.. Ayers,
under charge of deputy marshal, had
gone up there. Mr. Scott remarked
that be lad taken the position he had
without consultation with Mr.. Ayers !;
lut they were both Of one minG-at
any personal sacrifice 70 test the juris-
diction Of the United States Court iii
this case.
NaULTED FROM THE BENCH.
Locking at this venerable Virginian.
who in every feature and in every
movement and every tone of his voice
bears the stamp of gentleman, and
remembering his respectful though
proicstiul answer made TO Judge Bonds
rule. one cannot understand why Bond
should have addressed him in such
noedlessly severe terms in passing SEN
tcnce.
John Scott much bellies his looks,
and the history Of his family, too, if he
could have stood still and permitted
any one other than Il judge. a clergy
man, or IA woman to address him III
such language.
Asit is. he and Mr.. Ayers await VIM
dication at the hands of the United
States Supreme Court, where it IS be-
hcycd the question Of jurisdiction can
be heard and decided.
THE RECORD.
Mr.. AYERS was for several hours yes
terdav at the United States courthouse
| Grant building, Twelfth street be-
tween Clay and MarshalD, where Mr..
| Charles Y. Meredith was drafting the
petition, while Mr.. Pleasants, the clerk
Of the court, was preparing the record.
The record, which will make about
forty pages in print, Mr.. Peasants put
together with great speed, so that by
noon il was completed. Ii is tran
script from the record of the court,
! showing the various bills, answers,
pleas. &C., &c, that have been made,
and while it may possibly prove to be
| NNlN lhNiENluAAAb ANNs~tAAS w Wv -
prcme. Cont Bench, would hardly
prove interesting to the Dispatch
readers, who are already well Informed
| as 10 ell the proceedings that have been
taken in this case.
The petition will set forth that Mr..
! Ayers is uniustly detained iu custody,
| &c, and Will ask that the writ of habeaS
| co7yas issue commanding the United
States marshal to produce the body OF
the aforesaid Ayers before said court
for further inquiry.
There will be a like petition in the
case Of Mr.. Scott.
WHAT WILL THEY DO?
If the United States Supreme Court
shall be of opinion that Judge Bond
was without jurisdiction, they will dis
charge Ayers and Scott, and so reverse
Bond. If they refuse to discharge the
prisoners, the latter will then have